Health secretary defends 2022 long‑term‑care staffing regulations, cites pilots and ROI data

Department of Health Secretary Deborah Bogan told committee members the long‑term‑care staffing regulations adopted in 2022 were the result of the standard regulatory process and that the department is supporting nursing facilities through pilot investments intended to improve workforce retention and care quality.

Bogan said the 2022 regulations included phased‑in staffing expectations and direct‑care hour targets. Surveyors have enforced the new guidance during compliance surveys, and about 80% of facilities meet the staffing guidance, she said; the department has cited facilities for noncompliance but has not applied fines tied specifically to the staffing guidance. Bogan acknowledged staffing shortages are real and widespread and described the Long‑Term Care Transformation Office’s quality‑investment pilots, which provided awards ranging from about $20,000 to $100,000 to roughly 100 facilities. She said the department’s return‑on‑investment analysis showed the pilots reduced the need for agency staff and improved retention in participating facilities.

Why it matters: Providers testified that strict application of staffing rules can be burdensome when faced with call‑offs, storms and general workforce shortages. Legislators requested the department provide the ROI and pilot results to the committee and said they want to ensure that enforcement balances patient safety with operational realities.

Follow‑up and funding: Bogan said the governor’s proposed budget includes requests to continue quality‑investment pilot work; she agreed to provide the committee the department’s return‑on‑investment analysis and the data underlying survey results.

Committee requests: Members asked for the pilot‑project data to be shared with the committee and for the department to continue to coordinate on workforce initiatives aimed at boosting supply and reducing turnover.